Tag Archives: water aerobics

W is for Water Aerobics – Wet, Wild & Wonderful Exercise

Posted on January 13, 2012 | 1 Comment

Water Aerobics is great for Natural Health

Grab your suit, pick up a noodle, jump in the pool, and start your engines!  Water aerobics is one of the most perfect exercises – with weights it is a great cardiovascular workout, it’s done in warm-ish water with a lot of friendly people, and it will get you fit and smiling and happy in no time at all!

Once this great workout was touted as a way to get senior citizens up and moving.  But the more the effects were studied, the greater the range of participants became.  From Olympic athletes who could exercise longer in the water to horses who can’t get on the treadmill easily to repair injuries but love the warm water walking when they’re hurt, water aerobics is now for everyone!

The benefits of exercising in the water are a result of the increased resistance when you push through the water with your legs or used a cupped hand to scoop and push the heavy water.  The resistance is up to 10 times that of exercising in the air and on the land and the calories you will burn up also are greatly increased.

Here are some comparisons between land and water exercise:

  • Land walking: 135 calories
  • Deep water walking: 264 calories
  • Jogging on land: 240 calories
  • Deep water jogging: 340 calories

Jump right in and Get WET – What are We Waiting for?

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Posted in Anti-aging, Mind-Body-Spirit, Natural Health

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C is for Chlorine – Condition those Chemicals Constantly

Posted on August 31, 2011 | 1 Comment

Condition Chlorinated Hair for Natural Beauty

If you swim a lot or take water aerobics, chances are your hair is being damaged by the chlorine in the water.  Most pools use chlorine as a disinfectant and to keep them clean.  Nowadays, there are other ways that pools can be kept fresh and clean – and they are much healthier and safer for the environment.  Using a small amount of salt water in the pool or using a copper or silver ionizer is very effective.  Ozone is a natural sanitizer and will cut down on the burning eyes, bleached clothing, dry skin, and corroded pool liners and equipment that are the by-products of chlorination.  However, most pools are still sanitized with chlorine, so to cut down on the harmful effects, here are a few tips:

*    Rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water before entering the pool.  Hair that is super-saturated already tends to absorb less of the chlorinated water.

*    Put a conditioner in your hair before getting in the water.  This will add moisture and protection from chlorine.

*    Wear a bathing cap.  Okay, they’re not the most attractive head gear, but the point is to have attractive hair after your swim, right?

If all else fails and you don’t succeed in protecting your hair during your hair from the pool’s chlorine, see the next post – C is for Chlorine – Cutting down on Chemical Challenges.

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C is for Chlorine – Cutting Down on Chemical Challenges

Posted on August 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

Keep your Hair Naturally Beautiful

Chlorine keeps pools clean, but it can be harmful to your hair. It can damage the cuticle of the hair and make it feel dry and brittle, and can even turn blonde hair green in the pool.

In the previous post, we saw what to do before you get into the pool to protect your hair.  Now let’s look at post-swim protection from chlorine damage.

*  Rinse your hair out with fresh water immediately after swimming.  Club soda is very effective in cutting down on the effects of chlorine.

*  Use a shampoo that contains sodium thiosulfate. This ingredient is an antichlorinator, which will help to remove the smell and look of chlorine from the hair.

*  Make a clarifying rinse to treat your hair after being in the pool.

INGREDIENTS:
1 /4 C.  fresh lemon juice
2 TBL.  baking soda (see B is for Baking Soda – Bounty of Benefits for your Body
1 tsp. mild shampoo

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients together. To use, wet your hair, apply the entire mixture, then massage it into your hair and scalp, making sure the ends of your hair are coated. Put on a shower cap or cover your hair with plastic wrap and leave the treatment on for 30 minutes. Then rinse your hair well and shampoo and condition as usual.

*  Treat your hair to a deep conditioning anti-chlorine mask once a month:

INGREDIENTS:

1 egg

1 TBL. olive oil

1/4 cucumber

Blend the egg, olive oil and  peeled cucumber. Spread evenly through your hair, leave on for 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse. Repeat monthly for beautiful chlorine-free hair!

 

 

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W is for Water Aerobics – Wet and Wild

Posted on July 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

Water aerobics is no longer an exercise for senior citizens.  It’s a perfect exercise for anyone at any age.  It’s a great way to get in shape in a fun and friendly environment.  Yes, water aerobics is low impact and therefore a big help to those who have been sedentary or are getting older or suffer from arthritis or other diseases.  But there is so much more to gain from exercising in the water.

The resistance of the water against the body is about 10:1 and so increases the efficiency and results of the exercise.  Here are some comparisons between land and water exercise:

  • Land walking: 135 calories
  • Deep water walking: 264 calories
  • Jogging on land: 240 calories
  • Deep water jogging: 340 calories

Water causes your body to be buoyant, thus causing less stress on your joints and muscles. Water aerobics is a non-weight bearing exercise where water, instead of your lower extremities, supports your weight.

The action of kicking your legs and using your hands to cup the water helps contribute to muscle development, which increases your  metabolism and promotes a healthier body. Many water aerobics classes incorporate equipment like water paddles, noodles, single or double buoys, and kickboards to further induce strength gains.

Whether you exercise in the water at an outdoor pool or at a gym or the Y, jump right in and make a splash.  You’ll have fun, make new friends, lose some weight, gain some lung power, and whittle down your waist – What a W!

 

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